7/30/23
There’s been a lot of moving parts for me lately, and I’ve been indecisive when I’m typically decisive. Randomly it dawned on me.. I’ve always loved transitional plays when competing in basketball and soccer growing up. From some mistake or spark taking possession from our opponent, came an opportunity to capitalize on a moment. A breakaway chance to score or create for a teammate. Net rippling.
Transition is a constant. Some are bigger than others, dependent on the momentum or time in the game. Day-to-day movement. Year-by-year experiences. Pace is big. Rhythm is a result of that pace. Flow is induced by that flexible rhythm.
Where can we implement this transitional embrace in our lives?
GROUNDED
Roots - Present. Moment. Action.
There are a number of different schools of thought about how we learn as humans, and I’ve only scratched the surface by reading a few. Ironically, the one that resonated with me the most came from Wikipedia..
In this case, there are 3 simple principles of learning; Readiness, Exercise, and Effect.
Readiness: “Since learning is an active process, students must have adequate rest, health, and physical ability. The basic needs of students must be satisfied before they are ready or capable of learning.” This may seem obvious, but it cannot be overlooked. When we have not prepared ourselves, we are not the “blank slate” or “sponge” that we think we are. Learning itself cannot truly be done on top of other thoughts, either. Our ability to focus is far more effective when we have given ourselves a fighting chance to be in the present.
Effect: “However, every learning experience should contain elements that leave the student with some good feelings. A student's chance of success is definitely increased if the learning experience is a pleasant one.” Before the first exam in my freshman year accounting class, as he handed the papers out, my professor announced, “If you get a warm and fuzzy feeling after adding up both sides of the sheet to the same number, I have news for you.. you’re going to be an accountant.” Safe to say I didn’t get the warm and fuzzies.. Although I joke, there is credence to this. Not all learnings we receive are enjoyable; pay attention to the ones that put a smile on your face. I think we are meant to lean into our strengths in life. They are gifts to open.
Exercise: “Every time practice occurs, learning continues. These include student recall, review and summary, and manual drill and physical applications. All of these serve to create learning habits.” Implementation can often be the toughest part of our experience. We may know, but unless we DO what we know, it is just knowledge that hasn’t seen action. As the saying goes, A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
How can you set yourself up to be ready? Where do the positive effects repeat in your life and expand you? Lean in. Exercise.
IN THE KLOUDS
Movement - Move
Coco Jones x Justin Timberlake - ICU (Remix) (Future Classic)
Travis Scott x Bad Bunny x The Weeknd - K-Pop (“Cool Lil Summer Joint”)
Young Thug x Drake - Oh U Went (I don’t mind Reiterating)
Jungle - Casio (When all your dreams are gone)
ABOVE KLOUDS
Quote - Ego
“The ego is nothing other than the focus of conscious attention".” Alan Watts
KLOUTY SPOTLIGHT
Mitch Albom
In elementary school, I struggled with writing, particularly the order of words. One of the ways I overcame that was through.. reading. Funny how that works.
At that time, every Sunday morning at 7:30 am I would make myself a bowl of cereal, and plop my butt on the couch to enjoy watching the Sports Reporters. 4 sports reporters would sit in a semi-circle while discussing different current events within the sports world, each speaking authentically from their own lens and background. Writers that spoke how they wrote, and wrote how they spoke, fascinated me.
Years later, I was gifted the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. Little did I know, he was the Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist that anchored many Sports Reporters episodes I watched as a kid. Also famous for Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom writes thought-provoking stories that challenge your perception of faith and life.
More recently, he wrote The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, easily my favorite book I’ve ever read.
Like always, I don’t tell you this to convince you to read Mitch Albom. I share this because I was serendipitously gifted my favorite author. This gift has impacted my perspective on life.
Be open to the things people share with you. Continue down the path to learn more about the strangers that make an impact in your life. Embrace their work. When the time comes for you to share it, share. When the time comes for you to find a new author or food recipe or workout plan, etc.. be curious.
